Barton School hosts active shooter workshop

Columbine, Colo. Jonesboro, Ark. Newtown, Conn. Red Lake, Minn. Virginia Tech, Va.During the past few years, the evening news has frequently led with shooting incidents at schools across the country – from college campuses to elementary schools. These tragic incidents have reached alarming proportions.

During the past few years, the evening news has frequently led with shooting incidents at schools across the country – from college campuses to elementary schools. These tragic incidents have reached alarming proportions.

While the odds of such an incident occurring are remote, one local school district recently took a preventive measure and conducted a workshop addressing a possible violent attack on a school. Barton Schools hosted an “Active Shooter” workshop on Aug. 7. Law enforcement agencies participating in the seminar included the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office, Helena-West Helena Police and the Marianna Police Department.

Presenters included Tony Matlock and Bernie Mosley, Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy (ALETA) instructors. Mosley has worked with and helped train local law enforcement officers respond to school shooting incidents.

According Matlock, such an attack is a “power thing” for the “active shooter.” In reality, Matlock stated the person committing the assault is a coward. He added that 89 percent of the shooters wind up committing suicide. The average school-shooting incident lasts about 12 minutes.

A workbook provided by ALETA provided this profile of a potential school shooter. He may have been bullied by other students; lost a girlfriend to another guy; have low self-esteem, feelings of depression; and want the feeling of controlling another human’s life. There are five phases of leading up to an active shooter incident: fantasy stage, planning stage, preparation stage and implementation stage.

Once the shooting starts, immediate action must be taken. Initial responding officers should immediately proceed to the suspect to stop the threat. The suspect will continue to kill unless stopped or runs out of ammunition. The quicker the reaction time, the more lives will be saved.

Officers participated in a drill to properly secure the school building in the event such an attack occurs.